CIFA forms network for fisheries development in North East Region

Bhubaneswar, Orissa
19 March 2010

In a bid to form a network of fisheries R & D workers for the development of North East Region the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) based in Bhubaneswar, Orissa organized a two day workshop at Gangtok during March 11-12, 2010. Sri D. N. Takarpa, Honorable Minister for Health, Livestock, Fisheries and Parliamentary Affairs, Sikkim in presence of Sri V. Chauvan, IAS, Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Sikkim, inaugurated the meeting. The CIFA is working in for the aquaculture development of the North-eastern Region for over a decade and a large number of fish production units have been established all over the region. Besides large number of training programmes, farmers’ meet and technology demonstrations have been conducted informed Dr Ambekar E Eknath, Director, CIFA. The impact of the programme is highly encouraging and many more farmers and entrepreneurs have evinced interest to establish hatchery and production units of their own. This has led to increasing demand and pressure on the CIFA to cater to the R & D needs in the region, he added.

Dr Eknath stressed that in the ensuing year CIFA would intensify its efforts towards development of aquaculture by transferring technologies and training line department officials and entrepreneurs in the region. Further, there are a large number of the scientists and researchers in the region present within the approachable distance can prove to be a useful means for development. Unfortunately, many of them are located in the remote places and are not able to work as a team in a synergistic mode. Threfore, they need to be made as one group by forming a network to carry out the research and development activities in the region.

Gangtok declaration

Develop a common vision for sustainable aquaculture and fisheries development of the region

Complement and strengthen existing capacity to develop critical mass of professionals to address common issues and problems unique to NER

Sharing of resources – infrastructure and professional expertise

Provide a Forum for sharing of ideas, technologies, and information

Provide Policy advocacy for enhanced and sustainable development of Fisheries and Aquaculture in NER

The workshop comes out with “Gangtok Declaration” to commit and consolidate a network mode of the research and development in the NEregion. An adhoc constituent committee was formed to prepare the documents and modalities of the network. Besides the network, the meeting also discussed in details the strategies and options available for the development of the region. In this occasion, the CIFA also show cased the portfolio of aquaculture technologies ready to be extended to the various agro-climatic zone of the north-eastern region.

About 40 scientist, researchers and development workers involved in the fisheries and aquaculture development of the region attended the programme. Among others who attended the workshop were Mr. I. Haque, Director of Fisheries, Assam ; Mr. P. W. Bhutia, Director of Fisheries, Sikkim; and Dr. H. Rahman, Joint Director, ICAR Research complex, Sikkim.